In a dramatic turn of events at the Wankhede Stadium, Australia Women efficiently curtailed India’s first innings to just 36 minutes on the third morning. While India fell short of expectations, adding only 30 runs to their overnight score, they reached a historic total of 406. This marked the first time India Women crossed 400 runs against Australia in a Test match.
In response, Australia’s openers, Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield, established a solid start, adding 49 runs for the first wicket. However, their advantage was short-lived as India made a comeback by claiming two wickets before lunch.
Mooney, who scored 33 off 37 balls, was run out by Richa Ghosh, leaving Australia at 49 for 1. Shortly afterward, Litchfield, with 18 runs off 44 balls, fell victim to a delivery by Sneh Rana. From a promising start of 49 for no loss, Australia slumped to 56/2 in the space of 12 deliveries just before the lunch break.
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At Lunch on the third day, Australia stood at 63/2 in their second innings off 17 overs, with Ellyse Perry (7*) and Tahlia McGrath (1*) at the crease. The Indian bowlers showcased their prowess, turning the momentum in their favor.
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Earlier, in the brief duration of the third morning, Deepti Sharma and Pooja Vastrakar added crucial runs for India, reaching a partnership of 122 for the eighth wicket. Despite the short-lived innings, Deepti Sharma’s notable contribution of 78 runs off 171 balls played a crucial role.
Kim Garth and Annabel Sutherland utilized short-pitched deliveries to disrupt India’s momentum, with Vastrakar falling for 47. The Indian innings lasted only 36 minutes, but it was enough to secure a significant lead.
As the Test match progresses, India Women have positioned themselves with a lead of 124 runs, setting the stage for an intriguing battle.
Brief Scores (At lunch, Day 3): Australia Women 219 & 63/2 in 17 overs (Beth Mooney 33, Phoebe Litchfield 18; Sneh Rana 1-25) trail India Women 406 all out in 126.3 overs (Deepti Sharma 78, Smriti Mandhana 74, Jemimah Rodrigues 73; Richa Ghosh 52, Pooja Vastrakar 47; Ashleigh Gardner 4-100, Annabel Sutherland 2-41, Kim Garth 2-58) by 124 runs.
-IANS
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